The Chicago Cubs are looking to add a starting pitcher to bolster their rotation as they battle the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the National League Central.
Thus, why not target one of the best pitchers in baseball, Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets?
Jesse Rogers of ESPN examines this thought and what it would take to get the ace from the Mets. DeGrom’s agent recently made comments about the status of the right-hander with the Mets as rumors swirl have Jacob being possibly traded or the team talking to him about an extension.
Cubs starting pitching has a 3.88 ERA this year though their 4.67 FIP is the second worst in the National League and their 1.84 K/BB is dead last in the NL.
If the Mets do trade deGrom, they will certainly be looking to get players back that are already contributing at the major league level, and that is the type of players that Rogers proposes from the Cubs.
After talking to scouts, front-office executives and MLB media members the three names that popped up from the Cubs were shortstop Addison Russell, utility man Ian Happ and left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery.
Russell is a 24-year-old shortstop (has also played second base) that put up a 2.6 WAR mark in the 2018 first half after hitting .272/.345/.391 and 11 defensive runs saved. He is a free agent after the 2021 season.
Happ, 23, is hitting .256/.379/.453 with 11 homers this season though he has also struck out 100 times in 234 at-bats. He has played center field (-6 DRS), left field (0 DRS), right field (0 DRS), third base (0 DRS), first base (1 DRS) and second (0 DRS) this season. He is under team control through the 2023 season.
The left-handed Montgomery has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen this year for the Cubs as he’s posted a 3.91 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and has struck out only 48 batters in 76 innings. He doesn’t become a free agent until after the 2021 season.
